PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences
Problem
Four identical electrolytic capacitors, each with capacitance 220μF, are connected in parallel to a 5.0V regulated power supply to act as a filter bank for a small electronic device.
After several weeks of operation, one capacitor fails and becomes an open circuit (no current can pass through that branch).
(1) Calculate the equivalent capacitance of the filter bank before the failure.
(2) Determine the new equivalent capacitance after the failed capacitor no longer participates in the circuit.
(3) Find the percentage decrease in equivalent capacitance that results from the failure.
(4) The device’s specifications require the filter bank to store at least 0.80C of charge at 5.0V. Using your results, determine whether the capacitor bank still meets this requirement after the failure. Show all calculations leading to your conclusion.